Need Advice NOW! - Page 1

Ok, 1 week ago I sold a 1yr old GSD male to an un named person in Canada (I'm in the USA).  I had recieved him back, 2 weeks ago from someone who was going through a family breakup and could not keep him because of housing changes.

The new owner has complained from the start that the dog will not eat. I have given him several suggestions to no avail. The new owner claims he has not eaten the whole week he has been there!  Early on I asked if he had checked him for a blockage somewhere and his answer was .... he has no blockage....  His email today says he thinks the dog is going to die!! I told him to get the dog to the vet NOW and to give me the vet's phone number.

Previous to this he maybe skipped the first 2 days of eating while he was here and then ate very well. The original owner says he has never had an appitite problem and in fact the dog would take his hand off for raw food! Which is what the new owner orignally offered him.  The previous owner kept him at a slim weight, which in my opinion is correct for young dogs. But there is no way that he was a "rack of bones" like this new owner claims. My vet check and the flight weigh in can prove that.

Now, I know that it is hard to judge things by emails, but the exchange with the new owner has in my opinion been over reactive and angry right from the start. I am afraid that he has been abusive to the dog and that is why the dog is refusing to eat. The dog is VERY high drive and a bit out of control and this is why I am concerned about what is going on.  I want to get the dog back, but until he is checked by a vet and is deemed able to travel there is no way I can do anything.

Anyone have any suggestions?
Debby

Once you sell a dog to someone most of it is out of your hands.
If your not prepared for this I suggest you don't sell any more puppies or dogs.
The owner has the responsibility of properly raising the dog period.
Thats just the way it is.
I guess its too far to go see for yourself so what could you do?
The new owner has the ball.

Sorry to hear about your problem.
If the dog dies I would absolutely DEMAND a post-mortem examination I would inform this person A.S.A.P. that this procedure needs to be done. If he refuses to pay for the exam or have the procedure done, then no guarantee what so ever.
Demand copies of all vet records from the time he received the dog. Also in the vets report, make sure there is positive ID of the dog’s microchip and or tattoo. (this person could take any dog to the vet for a necropsy) Good luck Debby!

Craig

I was also thinking, that you could try to find some one in the area (gsd rescue, dog rescue, vet, another breeder...) to foster the dog until the dog is back to good enough health for shipping (or you go pick up the dog yourself), then ship the dog back to you. it may involve time and money but it may save the dog.

Thanks Craig.  I'll look into something that is close.... but hard to do. Anyone here know of anyone near Mono Mills Ontario CA? Driveing up there has not been ruled out.
He is taking the dog to the vet now. Pretty much on my demand to rule out any actual physical problems.
Upon talking to him on the phone he says the dog does play and is not just laying around.  He thinks he is just one of those problem eaters. BUT he has no history of that whatsoever!

Moons... gees    Prepared? What is that suppose to mean?? I happen to care about my dogs and when they leave here they are not just forgotten about. Problems are not shrugged off!  I help in EVERY way I can!!  This particular situation is out of the blue and hard to deal with because of the distance. Just asking for help thinking all options through. IF you don't have anything helpful then why not just keep your mouth shut????

Thanks Wink.
The signs of blockage can range from vomiting, bloated area, fever, refusing to eat or drink and then when they do it comes up. Usually no BM's or sometimes diarehea and a general listlessness.

djc,
I care for mine too,
and try to follow them all.
But I can't tell someone else how to raise their own animals once I no longer own them.
If I see one abused I do take action and have more than once in the past.

Yes you always have a concern but not a lot of rights.
You can ask but you can't demand, and the other guy can tell you to mind your own business if he so chooses.

I am not my brothers keeper and he is not mine.

If you suspect abuse call someone and see if you can prove the abuse, get it taken care of that way.
I simply went and got my dog and brought it home with me.
Ya gotta cross a line to do that, I'm the kind of guy who will do it, others cannot.

I'd say keep communication with the owner open and try to be as helpful as you can, but realize there are limitations to every situation.
That really is the way it is.


Why not keep my mouth shut,  because your on a public message board and I was only explaining what your up against.
No I won't keep my mouth shut unless I choose too.
Didn't mean to cause you to be rude, didn't mean to upset you.
Just telling you that if I had one of your dogs and you didn't like how I raised it you'd have no rights.

Moons.

Is that near or in Orangeville?  I'd never heard of it, but googled it and it came up Orangeville.
 
Is this person doing schutzhund or anything with the dog?  The reason I ask, is because there is a club/boarding/training center  near Orangeville which isn't  too far from me.

hmmm I had always thought that a dog would not starve itself. I know when one of my dogs came she turned her nose up to EVERY brand of dog food I offered her, so I went to RAW and she (after 4 whole days living on NutriCal and Albon-she had coccidia) all of a sudden had a great appetite... As others said that dog needs to go to the vet.